Local moving companies in Raleigh
- Bellhop Moving: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Athens Moving Experts: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Little Guys Movers : 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Excel Moving & Storage: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Next Stop Movers: 4.62 out of 5 stars
Bellhop Moving

DOT #: 2878240
Years in Business: 14
8024 Glenwood Ave, Suite 305, Raleigh, NC 27612 USBellhop Moving earns high marks for efficiency and professionalism, with 62% of input reflecting strong satisfaction out of the 92 reviews analyzed. Customers highlight prompt, careful service from polite movers, quick moving processes, and competitive pricing. Many praise the care taken with belongings, friendly attitudes, and seamless booking. On the downside, over one-third of customer feedback cites frustration with damages to furniture or property, poor communication, and instances where movers lacked experience or preparation. A few reviewers also faced unresolved claims, delays, or insufficient compensation for damaged items. While Bellhop offers more budget-friendly rates and efficient service compared to many moving companies, the risk of damages and inconsistent quality underscores the importance of clear communication and setting expectations. Most who use Bellhop for standard, smaller moves appreciate the value, but concerns remain for complex or larger moves requiring extra care or experience.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 2878240
- State license #: 2934
Alternative Business Names
- Bellhops, Inc.
Athens Moving Experts

DOT #: 3205320
Years in Business: 8
6601 Hillsborough St, Suite 111, Raleigh, NC 27606 USAthens Moving Experts gets top marks from customers who appreciate reliable, courteous, and hardworking crews. Nearly 94% of feedback is positive across 334 reviews. People routinely mention how efficiently the teams work, how carefully they handle belongings, and how friendly and communicative they are throughout the process. Fair pricing stands out as another frequent highlight compared to competitors. A few clients, however, report issues such as damaged or poorly packed items, especially during busy or larger moves. Some negative input also cites crews lacking experience or rushing, which led to mistakes. In the rare neutral reviews, most concerns relate to minor service lapses or pandemic-related policy misunderstandings rather than major moving problems. Athensโs consistent reputation for speed, respectful service, and professionalism places them ahead of most local movers, but a small number of clients wish for even greater attention to packing quality and oversight during complex jobs.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 3205320
- State license #: 2657
Little Guys Movers

DOT #: 1931566
Years in Business: 31
1301 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27603 USRave input says Little Guys Movers stands out for reliable, professional teams who handle belongings with care and keep things moving efficiently. Out of 315 reviews, an overwhelming 93.7% rate the company highly, often calling out polite staff, excellent communication, careful handling, and fast, organized service as reasons to recommend them. Quotes usually match the final cost, and customers note that movers arrive on time, stay upbeat, and make stressful moves feel easy. On the other hand, negative feedbackโabout 5.4%โfocuses on damaged items, with a few cases of slow or careless service, and occasional complaints about unexpectedly high or confusing charges and poor communication during claims or repairs. With positive ratings far above industry averages, Little Guys Movers garners trust through skilled teams and transparent pricing practices, though a handful of customers encounter problems with damage resolution or billing discrepancies.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Crating
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1931566
- State license #: 2548
Excel Moving & Storage

DOT #: 076235
Years in Business: 26
2612 Discovery Dr, Raleigh, NC 27616 USExcel Moving & Storage stands out with a stellar reputation for professionalism, efficient moves, and careful handling of belongings. Of 283 customer experiences reviewed, 78% highlight attentive staff, timely communication, and a smooth moving process. Customers value the team's politeness, quick work, and the sense that their possessions are respected. When compared to typical industry input, Excel's high marks for effective communication and detail-oriented care put them ahead of many competitors. Despite the strong positive feedback, 18% report concerns, mainly regarding damaged or missing items and communication lapses after incidents. While most feedback applauds reliability, negative reviews reveal challenges with problem resolution, lost goods, and slow or absent responses when something goes wrong. Neutral feedback, just over 3%, notes good customer service but occasional delivery delays or minor damages. Excel earns frequent recommendations for large or complex moves, but customers should confirm policies on claims and coverage for valuable items. The company reliably delivers efficient, careful moves, though improvements in post-move communication could further strengthen their standing.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Crating
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 076235
- State license #: 2311
Next Stop Movers

DOT #: 3619230
Years in Business: 3
5609 Departure Dr, Ste 201, Raleigh, NC 27616 USMoving made easyโcustomers praise Next Stop Movers for quick and careful service, friendly and professional staff, and a consistently hassle-free experience. Seven customer feedback entries analyzed, with 100% rated positively. Movers handle furniture attentively, offer efficient solutions, and communicate clearly. People appreciate affordable rates and flexibility, standing out compared to less responsive companies. No negative feedback was reported, and no recurring issues surfaced among the reviews.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 3619230
- State license #: 1267633
Key factors that impact the cost of your Raleigh to Norfolk move
What to know before moving from Raleigh to Norfolk
Moving from Raleigh to Norfolk means adjusting to a different pace of life โ and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Raleigh than in Norfolk, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.
Check out how Raleigh compares to Norfolk so you know what to expect before you relocate:
Raleigh | Norfolk | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,670 | $1,500 |
Average home value | $431,795 | $283,890 |
Average income (per capita) | $2,572 | $63,484 |
Cost of living (single person) | $6,077 | $2,769 |
Cost of living (family of 4) | $6,077 | $5,552 |
Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 7.3% |
Sales tax | 7.25% | 6.0% |
State income tax | 4.5% | 5.75% |
- Rent prices in Norfolk are 10% lower than in Raleigh, which means youโll have more money in your pocket each month.
-
In terms of homeownership, youโll be able to get more for your money in Norfolk.
Home prices in Norfolk are 34.3% lower than in Raleigh. - Income in Norfolk is 2,368.3% higher than in Raleigh, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Norfolk include CMA CGM, Norfolk Southern Railway, and PRA Group.
- The cost of living for a single person in Norfolk is 54.4% lower than in Raleigh. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- The cost of living for a family in Norfolk is 8.6% lower than in Raleigh.
- The unemployment rate in Norfolk is 69.77% higher than in Raleigh.
- Youโll spend less on retail and restaurants in Norfolk, since the cityโs sales taxes in Norfolk are 17.24% lower than in Raleigh.
- State income taxes in Norfolk are 27.78% higher than in Raleigh.
To put this in perspective, you would need around $1,366.96 in Norfolk to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Raleigh.
How life is different in Raleigh vs. Norfolk
Norfolk | Raleigh | |
---|---|---|
Population | 238,005 | 467,665 |
AllTransit Transportation Performance Score | 6 | 4 |
Walkability score | 46 | 31 |
Bike friendliness score | 47 | 39 |
Crime Index | 58.1 | 38.87 |
Safety Index | 41.9 | 60.13 |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
- Norfolk might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 49% less than Raleigh.
- Norfolk offers better access to buses and trains than Raleigh, based on public transportation ratings. Norfolk has a transit score of 6 out of 10 compared to 4 in Raleigh. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
- Living in Norfolk means youโll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Raleigh. Norfolk is considered more walkable than Raleigh, with a score of 46 out of 100 versus 31 out of 100 in Raleigh. A cityโs walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
- If cycling is your thing, Norfolk is considered more bike-friendly than Raleigh in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Norfolk has a bike-friendliness score of 47 out of 100, while Raleigh is rated as 39 out of 100.
- The crime rate in Norfolk is higher than in Raleigh, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 58.1 in Norfolk, it is 38.87 in Raleigh. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a cityโs crime levels.
- You may want to exercise more caution as youโre getting used to your new surroundings in Norfolk. With a crime index of 41.9, Norfolk ranks lower in overall safety than Raleigh, whose index is Raleigh's 60.13. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
- You can breathe easy knowing that Norfolk has better air quality than in Raleigh. Norfolk has Good air quality, compared to moderate in Raleigh. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.
Other things to consider for your Raleigh vs. Norfolk move
- Weather: If you are considering a move to Norfolk, plan your move on the months of May, October and September as these are the most pleasant months in Norfolk, while July and January are the least comfortable months.
- HOA rules: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
- Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
- Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulationsโsome areas require permits for large moving trucks.
- State licensing: In addition to filing tariffs and complying with insurance, bond, and highway safety requirements, all intrastate moving companies in Virginia must have a certificate from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VaDMV). Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
- State regulator: You can verify a Virginia moving company\โs license by visiting the state'spublic utilities commission
- Moving permits: You wonโt need a moving permit in Virginia, though it\โs smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
- Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly toNorfolk Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations.In Virginia, movers commonly offer Released Value Protection at no additional cost, providing coverage at 60 cents per pound. For increased protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company. Alternatively, explore third-party insurance providers for personalized plans. It's essential to understand coverage limits, potential additional costs, and read reviews to make an informed decision about your moving insurance in Virginia.
- Moving checklist: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Where to live in Norfolk
Now that youโve chosen "Norfolk" as your next home, here are a few of the best neighborhoods in Norfolk to check out.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- East Ghent
- Ghent
- Downtown
- Newtown
- West 21st Street
Best neighborhoods for families
- Ghent
- Virginia Beach
- Edgewater-Larchmont
- West Ghent
- East Ghent
Things to do in Norfolk
Now that you've made the move to Virginia, itโs the perfect time to explore Norfolk. From local hotspots to hidden gems, thereโs something to enjoy for every lifestyle:
- Arts and culture: Youโll find museums and cultural hubs throughout Norfolk, such as the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, Chrysler Museum of Art, Nauticus, MacArthur Memorial, and Hermitage Museum and Gardens.
- Outdoor recreation: The cityโs Norfolk Botanical Garden, Pagoda & Oriental Garden, Town Point Park, and Lake Drummond โ along with other locations, ideal for trails, cycling, or enjoying the fresh air.
- Sports: Experience the energy of a live game and back the home team at an Norfolk Tides (Baseball-International League (AAA)), Norfolk Admirals (Ice hockey), Old Dominion University (Football), or Old Dominion University (Basketball) game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Raleigh to Norfolk?
The most budget-friendly and comfortable times to move from Raleigh to Norfolk are in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and moving rates in Raleigh are lower.
When is the cheapest time to move from Raleigh to Norfolk?
With many people choosing to move from Raleigh to Norfolk in spring or fall, winter moves often come with better rates. Take a look at our moving discounts guide to find out how to save.
How long does a move from Raleigh to Norfolk take?
Moving from Raleigh, NC to Norfolk, VA covers 185 miles and usually takes one to two days. Need to move faster? Some Raleigh movers offer expedited options. If youโre not ready to receive your items, look into storage solutions in Norfolk.